Current Affairs 01st December 2025

1. New finds highlight Great Nicobar project sites biodiversity

GS PAPER III-ENVIRONMNET AND ECOLOGY

A new snake species, Lycodon irwini, and a potentially new bird species, the Great Nicobar Crake, underscore Great Nicobar Island’s exceptional yet threatened biodiversity.

New snake species: Lycodon irwini

Newly discovered wolf snake, endemic to Great Nicobar Island.
Named after Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin.
Slender, nocturnal, about 1.2 m long.
Uniform glossy black body, lacking white cross‑bands.
Distinct scale counts and head shape separate it from related species.

Range and conservation (snake)

Known only from a small area on eastern Great Nicobar.
Prefers undisturbed tropical evergreen forest floor.
Extremely few records so far, indicating rarity.
Scientists suggest assessment as Endangered under IUCN criteria.

Potential new bird: Great Nicobar Crake (Rallina sp.)

Rail‑like bird, tentatively described from Great Nicobar.
Belongs to genus Rallina, hence called Great Nicobar Crake.
Small, reddish‑brown bird, with strong legs and long toes.
Occupies damp forest floor and wetland edges.

Knowledge gaps about the crake

True taxonomic status not yet fully resolved.
Population size and exact distribution remain unknown.
Very limited data on breeding biology and nesting sites.
No formal IUCN assessment specific to this form yet.

Other new species since 2021

Around 40 new species reported from Great Nicobar surveys.
Include frogs, crabs, geckos and many insect groups.
Several species described from project‑affected forest areas.
Discoveries show island remains biologically under‑explored.

Why Great Nicobar is biologically important

Part of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s MAB.
Hosts about 650 plant species and over 1,800 animal species.
Roughly 24% endemism in some faunal groups.
Contains rainforest, mangroves, coastal and coral‑linked habitats.
Supports rare species like Nicobar megapode and tree shrew.

Conservation concerns

Mega infrastructure plans risk large‑scale forest diversion.
Habitat fragmentation threatens narrowly distributed endemics.
Coastal works may alter nesting beaches and intertidal zones.
Invasive species and climate‑driven sea‑level rise add pressure.
Strong EIAs, protected corridors and long‑term monitoring are essential

2. India needs research pipelines

GS‑III– Economy &Science and technology

Context :Article by Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar argues India needs predictable “research pipelines” beyond episodic CSR grants.

Focus is on linking corporate R&D spending with universities through clear, scalable policies.

Why public grants are not enough ?

Government grants alone cannot match the scale and speed of private sector innovation.
Reliance only on public funds leaves research vulnerable to budget cuts and changing priorities.

How other countries built ecosystems

United States

US firms invest huge R&D outlays and work with universities via joint centres and long‑term contracts.
Programmes like NSF’s Industry–University centres fund pre‑competitive research relevant to industry.

China

Chinese tech and auto firms spend a high share of revenue on R&D, with some above 7–8%.
Companies collaborate with universities through shared labs and large mission‑oriented projects.

Key idea

Countries that turned science into industry matched firm R&D to university strengths.
They created predictable pipelines: labs, PhD cohorts, and pilot lines serving industry needs.

India’s current situation

Company‑wise R&D intensity

Company (India)	Sector / Focus	R&D spending snapshot	R&D intensity (R&D as % of sales or revenue)
Tata Motors	Automobiles	R&D outlay about ₹4,348 crore in FY24	Around 6–7% of revenue.
Sun Pharma	Pharmaceuticals	About 6.7% of global revenues spent on R&D in FY24	Roughly 6–7% intensity.
Dr. Reddy’s	Pharmaceuticals	R&D spend ≈ ₹2,911 crore in FY24	About 8–9% of revenue.
Bharat Electronics	Defence electronics	R&D ≈ 6.24% of turnover in FY24	About 6% intensity.
Tata Steel / others	Capital‑intensive industry	Significant but lower R&D ratios compared with global peers	Often below leading global benchmarks.

India’s GERD is about 0.65% of GDP, with enterprises funding nearly two‑fifths.
Private R&D lacks predictable pipelines and structured links with universities.

What India needs to do ?

Set clear R&D mandates

Fix three‑year sectoral R&D‑to‑sales ratios for autos, pharma, electronics, defence etc.
Tie these ratios to energy, climate and technology goals relevant to India’s needs.

Strengthen industry–university collaboration

Use campus programmes that bring industry mentors and PhD scholars together.
Create multi‑university centres working on problem portfolios, not isolated projects.

Modernise tax incentives

Link tax deductions to measurable R&D outputs like patents, standards and field trials.
Support universities through tax‑smart instruments that reward joint IP and prototypes.

Teach how to collaborate

Train faculty and students in IP, negotiation and working with firms.
Design adjunct positions and dual‑track roles so researchers move between labs and industry.

Improve disclosure by listed companies

Ask boards to report R&D as strategic investment, not incidental expense.
Publish R&D metrics in accessible formats and Indian languages to signal seriousness.

Final message of the article

India must treat corporate R&D as a long‑term pipeline feeding universities and industry together.
With clear targets, strong partnerships and transparent reporting, India can match global innovation leaders

3. Sky roots first orbital rocket

GS paper III-science and Technology

Context :Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s first orbital rocket, Vikram‑I, and its new “Infinity Campus” in Hyderabad.

The event highlights India’s shift to an open, innovation‑driven and private‑sector‑led space ecosystem.

Background: India’s evolving space ecosystem

Space sector liberalisation since 2020 has allowed private firms to build and launch rockets and satellites.
Over 300 space startups now operate in India, supported by ISRO, IN‑SPACe and various incubators.

What did PM Modi emphasize?

“Unprecedented opportunity” in space :India is at a pivotal stage to expand its role in the global space economy.

The Prime Minister underlined that policy reforms have created this window of opportunity.

Rising private sector role :Private startups are now designing launch vehicles, satellites and downstream services.

Government acts as an enabler, with ISRO sharing infrastructure and expertise.

Launch of Vikram‑I orbital rocket :Vikram‑I is Skyroot’s first orbital‑classlaunch vehicle for putting satellites into Low Earth Orbit.

Its unveiling marks a major milestone for India’s private launch capabilities.

Skyroot’s “Infinity Campus” :New R&D and manufacturing campus in Hyderabad to design, assemble and test rockets.

Aims to serve as a hub for talent, innovation and future vehicle development.

About Skyroot Aerospace

Hyderabad‑based private space startup founded by former ISRO engineers.
First Indian private company to launch a rocket (sub‑orbital Vikram‑S in 2022).

What PM Modi said about Skyroot ?

Praised the founders as role models for young space entrepreneurs.
Stressed that their risk‑taking and confidence show how startups can transform the nation.

Why this is important for India ?

Boost to Indian private space sector

Validates the business model of private launch startups and attracts more investment.
Reduces exclusive dependence on ISRO for launching small satellites.
Strengthens Make in India and self‑reliance in high‑technology manufacturing.

Tapping the global space economy

Global space economy is currently around USD 450–500 billion and rising fast.
Projections suggest it could exceed USD 1 trillion by 2040, led by satellites and launch services.
India seeks a larger share through low‑cost rockets, satellite production and space‑based services.

Youth empowerment

Space startups open careers in launch‑vehicle design, satellite systems and avionics.
Also create roles in AI‑based space analytics, telecom, navigation and remote‑sensing applications.

Strategic importance

A diverse private launch capability supports resilient access to space for national needs.
Enhances technological depth, supply‑chain strength and global competitiveness in space services.

What is Vikram‑I?

Vikram‑I rocket – key features

Private orbital rocket developed by Skyroot Aerospace.
Designed to carry roughly up to 300 kg payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Built using advanced carbon‑composite structures to reduce weight and increase strength.
Employs a combination of solid fuel stages and a liquid (or hybrid) upper stage for precision.

Importance of Vikram‑I

Makes India one of the few countries with a private company building orbital launchers.
Targets the growing global small‑satellite market for Earth observation and communication.
Positions Skyroot to compete with small‑satellite launch providers like Rocket Lab and smaller vehicles from SpaceX.

Overall significance

The inauguration of Vikram‑I and the Infinity Campus signals that India’s space story is no longer only about ISRO.
It showcases a maturing ecosystem where startups, policy reforms and youth innovation together drive India’s rise as a competitive space power.

4. Italy becomes latest nation to legally recognise ‘femicide’: What it means

GS-I: Society :Gender issues, patriarchy, status of women, social empowerment.

Contex:Italy has enacted a landmark law that explicitly recognises femicide as a distinct offence, punishable with life imprisonment.

Meaning of femicide

Femicide is the intentional killing of a woman or girl because she is a woman.
It usually involves intimate partners, relatives or others driven by control, misogyny or rigid gender roles.

Core characteristics

It is a gender‑motivated crime, rooted in power imbalance, coercion and domination over women.
Law and criminology often group cases into partner‑related, family‑related and non‑family femicides.
It is treated as a separate legal category because the victim’s gender or gender identity is a central motive.

Why criminalizing femicide matters ?

Gives formal legal recognition to gender‑specific motives and recurring patterns of lethal violence.
Enables systematic data collection and official statistics, improving targeted laws, policing and welfare measures.
Helps society understand links between toxic masculinity, harassment, coercive control and eventual killings, supporting early‑stage prevention.

5. AIDS and TB fight -Tamil Nadu Shows the way again

GS paper III-Science and technology -bitechnology

Context :Tamil Nadu’s innovative model for TB and AIDS control has shown effective outcomes.

The state drastically reduced TB mortality and improved AIDS management.
It aligns with national and global goals of disease elimination by 2025.

What Are AIDS and TB?

AIDS is caused by HIV, which weakens immunity, making the body prone to infections.
TB is a bacterial infection mainly affecting lungs but can spread to other organs.
HIV increases the risk of TB development due to immune suppression.

How They Affect Human Health ?

HIV/AIDS leads to reduced immunity and susceptibility to infections like TB.
TB causes prolonged illness, lung damage, and can lead to death if untreated.
Co-infection worsens health outcomes and complicates treatment strategies.

Background

India bears the highest global burden of TB and has many HIV-positive cases.
HIV escalates TB incidence, complicating TB control efforts.
Central programs: National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) and National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).

Government Initiatives

NTEP targets TB elimination by 2025 through early detection and treatment.
NACP runs HIV prevention, testing, and care via State AIDS Control Societies.
National awareness campaigns like ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ support these efforts.

Tamil Nadu Model

“TB Free Tamil Nadu 2025” focuses on active case finding and micro-planning.
TN-KET (Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam) triages TB patients by severity, reducing early deaths by 20%.
The state has 23 mobile diagnostic units, extensive microscopy, and molecular labs.
Integrated HIV and TB programs address co-infection risks effectively.
Conducts intensive 100-day TB awareness and screening campaigns with community outreach.

Global Context

HIV worsens TB epidemics globally, especially in Africa and Asia.
India accounts for about 26% of global TB cases and is second in HIV population.
Managing HIV-TB co-infection requires integrated approaches.

6. Madhav Acharya

GS paper I -Art &culture

Context : PM Narendra Modi invoked Jagadguru Madhvacharya’s legacy during Udupi visit, linking it to India’s spiritual heritage amid Ramayana Theme Park inauguration in Goa.

About Madhav Acharya

Madhvacharya (1238–1317 CE), born Vāsudeva in Pajaka near Udupi, Karnataka, founded Dvaita Vedanta as a Vaishnava acharya and incarnation of Vayu.
Renowned for physical prowess and intellect, he took sannyasa young, becoming Purna Prajna and Ananda Tirtha.

Dvaita Philosophy Core

Dvaita (Tattvavāda) asserts realist dualism via Pancha-Bheda: eternal distinctions between God-soul, God-matter, soul-matter, soul-soul, matter-matter.
Vishnu is supreme independent reality; souls/matter dependent; moksha via bhakti and grace, not jnana.
Accepts three pramanas: pratyaksha (perception), anumana (inference), sabda (scriptures).

Bhakti Movement Role

Reinforced Vishnu devotion, smarana (remembrance), challenging Advaita monism and Vishishtadvaita.
Authored 37 works: commentaries on Gita, Brahma Sutras, Upanishads, Bhagavata Purana (Tatparya-nirnaya).
Established Udupi Krishna Math and Ashta Mathas, inspiring Jayatirtha, Vyasatirtha, Raghavendra

7. Why India gets a ‘C’ Grade in IMF’s data adequacy assessment

GS Paper II-IR

IMF gave India a ‘C’ rating for national accounts (GDP/GVA) in its 2025 Article IV consultation, indicating shortcomings that hamper surveillance.

IMF Background

Established at 1944 Bretton Woods Conference; operational from December 27, 1945, with 191 members.
Washington, D.C. HQ; UN specialized agency for monetary cooperation, stability, trade, and growth.

Data Adequacy Ratings